Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and a fun city to explore in South East Asia. It is modern while still maintaining the culture that makes it unique. There are many malls for those who love shopping, extensive gardens for those who love the outdoors, temples & mosques for those looking to explore, and towering above it all are the Petronas Towers, which make an excellent backdrop to the skyline.
1. Petronas Towers
The jewel of Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. A visit to the top of the towers should definitely be included in any itinerary for visiting Kuala Lumpur. The tours are very well organized and timed, so you do have to make the most of your time at the top. There are stunning views of the city and on clear days you can see super far! And visiting during the sunset is spectacular. Visiting hours are from 9:00-21:00 (9:00 pm). The towers are closed every Monday and between 13:00-14:30 (1:00 pm- 2:30 pm) every Friday.
Cost: RM 85 (~$20) for adults, RM 45 (~$11) for seniors 61 and older, RM 35 (~$9) for children under 12, and free for children under 3!
Insider Tip: One of the best times to go up the towers is at sunset. This is a popular time to visit, so make sure to book your tickets well in advance! I would say 2 days prior should be sufficient. Bookings can be made directly through their website {http://www.petronastwintowers.com}; you can pick up the tickets 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. You can also visit the ticket counter in person to purchase your tickets, if you prefer. Another tip: If you do go to a sunset tour of the towers, make sure to pop outside and see the dancing fountains in the front. The fountain lights up and dances along to synchronized music and is truly spectacular!
2. Batu Caves
Located in a limestone mountain about 30 minutes outside the city, this cave is the most important Hindu temple outside of India and draws a large crowd. The temples are dedicated to the Indian deity Lord Murugan, and a colossal sized statue of him greets visitors at the entrance. The climb to the actual cave is over 200 steps (272 to be exact). Once at the top, you will enter a huge cavern where several small temples are located. Make sure to go up the second flight of stairs, where another temple sits. Join the locals in getting a blessing!
There are many monkeys that live in the area and scamper up and down the stairs all day. It is fun to watch them and take pictures but be wary – they are known to steal from tourists (though they seemed mainly interested in plastic water bottles while I was there).
Cost: Entrance to the main cave is free! If you would like to visit the ‘Dark Cave' it cost RM 35 (~$9) for adults and RM 25 (~$6.50) for children for a 45 minute tour. It is home to one of the rarest spiders in the world, the Trapdoor Spider.
Insider Tip: To get into the cave, women must have their legs covered. If you forget, it is possible to rent a sarong at the bottom of the stairs for a deposit of RM 5 ($1.29). When you return the sarong, you will receive RM 2 back. If you want to avoid renting a sarong, wear a long skirt or pants.
3. Chinatown
One of the most vibrant parts of Kuala Lumpur is Chinatown. Bustling and full of life, it is also a great place to grab a bite to eat or purchase some souvenirs. Petaling Street is the main market area where you can finds all kinds of goods. If you are a bargain shopper, then this is the perfect place for you! As day turns into night, the Chinese lanterns are lit and make for some wonderful photo opportunities.
Cost: Free to walk around, but you will probably want to do some shopping
Insider Tip: If you get hungry while shopping, there are lots of restaurants in the Chinatown area that can satisfy most cravings. While, I can't recommend any place specifically, I would say go where the local people gather – it is bound to be busy for a good reason! I found a great little place that way and had a delicious meal!
4. Shop till you drop
Malaysians love to shop, and the many malls in Kuala Lumpur are a testament to that. Below are just three of the many places you can do some shopping.
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Central Market
Located just down the street from many tourists sights (such as Chinatown, and monuments on the Free Walking Tour), this indoor mall has many tiny shops full of all kinds of unique Malaysian arts, crafts, and clothing. From its beginning as a wet market in 1888, the market has come a long way and makes a great place to shop and appreciate Malaysian heritage and culture. If you get hungry while shopping, their food court has a range of options that include Malaysian, Indian and Western food.
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Suria KLCC
This mall is located directly under the Petronas Twin Towers, so it makes a great place to kill time if you are waiting for your scheduled tour. It has over 320 shops in its six stories including many department stores and international brands. Outside are the dancing fountains, which light up at night and are synchronized to music. Really a beautiful sight that should not be missed!
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Pavilion
The place to shop for the extravagant, this mall houses over 450 shops of both international designer labels as well as local specialty shops. It also has a wide range of dining options both in the mall as well as the surrounding area. Make sure to stop by the main entrance to view the Pavilion Crystal Fountain, which is actually the tallest Liuli crystal fountain in Malaysia.
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Chinatown
The perfect place for bargain hunting or finding a designer knockoff (See number 3)
5. Eat like a local
Malaysia is famous for its delicious cuisine, which has influences from all over Asia. You can find restaurants serving Thai, Chinese, or traditional Indonesian dishes all over the city. Below are a few of the many, many dining options in Kuala Lumpur.
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Jalan Alor
There is nothing more authentic than a street full of amazing malaysian restaurants at unbelievably cheap prices. Jalan Alor is just that and is a must-visit on any trip to the city! Both sides of the street are lined with restaurants serving amazing food with tables and chairs outside in the street. Take a seat, enjoy your food, watch the people going by, and take in an authentic Malaysian experience.
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Dining in the Dark
If you have ever wanted to experience what it would be like to eat while being blind, you are in for a treat at Dining in the Dark {http://www.dininginthedarkkl.com}. Located on Changkat Bukit Bintang (see number 6), this unique restaurant offers meals in complete darkness and gives customers the chance to see what it feels like to be blind while enjoying a four course meal. The waiters and waitresses are all visually impaired and guide you on your culinary journey. A very interesting sensory experience well worth the RM 118, plus taxes and service charges (~$30). The restaurant opens at 18:00 (6:00 pm) with the last seating at 21:30 (9:30 pm). Reservations highly recommended.
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Classic Malay Cuisine
While in Kuala Lumpur make sure to try some of these classic dishes:
- Roti Canai – a traditional breakfast of dough cooked on a griddle. Traditionally served with curry
- Nasi Lemak – probably one of the most popular dishes in Malaysia. It comes with coconut rice, roasted peanuts, dried anchovies, cucumber, sambal, and an egg. It is sually eaten for breakfast but it good at any time of the day
- Laksa – Malaysian version of noodle soup. There are endless varities available and all of them are delicious
- Satay – One of my favorite dishes! Meats are marinated with local spices, grilled and served with an amazing peanut sauce.
- Nasi Goreng – Malaysian fried rice; fantastic street food
- Mee Goreng – Malaysian fried noodles; also great street food
6. Changkat Bukit Bintang
If you're looking for a fun place for a night out, look no further than this bustling street full of bars and restaurants. Stop at any of the bars for a drink; many of them feature happy hour deals and specials (some all night long). One of my favorites is Whiskey Bar where you can get flights of whiskey or amazing whiskey cocktails.
Cost: You can spend as much or as little as you want; bargain hunters should look for happy hour deals or specials, which are available at many of the bars on either side of the street.
Insider Tip: This pub street is located just down the street from Jalan Alor (see number 5). it makes a great place to visit after having a cheap dinner!
7. Botanic Gardens and Bird Park
If you fancy a break from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, the Botanic Gardens {http://www.klbotanicgarden.gov.my} is the perfect place to do it. The gardens are quite extensive and you could spend hours wandering around admiring all of the tropical plants. Honestly, it is easy to forget you are in a busy metropolitan city. The gardens are open from 7:00 – 20:00 (8:00 pm).
Located in the Botanic Gardens is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park {http://www.klbirdpark.com}, the world's largest walk-in aviary. It provides a great opportunity to get up close and personal with many species of birds including peacocks which frequently display their beautiful tails for visitors. The bird park is open daily from 9:00 – 18:00 (6:00 pm).
Cost: Botanic Gardens are free! The Bird Park is RM 50 (~$12) for adults, and RM 41 (~$10) for children ages 3-11
Insider Tip: If you are interested in visiting the Botanic Gardens, make sure to carve out a few hours of your time to explore the hidden, quiet corners of this haven. Before visiting the bird park, check their website for feeding times in order to see the birds at their most active!
8. Islamic Arts Museum
I love visiting museums in different cities, and the Islamic Arts Museum {http://www.iamm.org.my} was not only beautiful but incredibly educational. The museum features galleries of Islamic architecture, the Quran and manuscripts, Islamic arts from India, China, and Malaysia, as well as textiles, jewelry, arms, armor, coins, and ceramics all with Islamic influences. My favorite part was the architecture gallery where small models of famous mosques around the world are on display. I also enjoyed looking at the different textiles and clothing from different parts of the Islamic world. A fantastic museum and well worth a visit if you have any interest in art or Islam! The museum is open daily from 10 AM until 6 PM (Note: The museum restaurant is closed on Monday).
Cost: Adults RM 14 (~$3.50), Seniors/Students (with ID) RM 7 (~$1.70), children under 6 free
Insider Tip: Make sure to check out the gift shop on your way out – loads of cool things in there! The museum is also right by the Botanical Gardens and Bird Park and could easily be combined together in one day.
9. Heli Lounge
Kuala Lumpur is full of amazing rooftop bars but one of the most unique is Heli Lounge – a lounge and rooftop bar converted from an unused helicopter pad. When you are up there, you get a 360 degree view of Kuala Lumpur at night that can't be beat. It is also incredibly cool that there is no railing which makes you feel like you could fall off the edge (you can't they have a safety barrier built underneath and lots of security watching closely). With views of both the Petronas Towers and the KL Tower, which glows many different colors at night, the Heli Lounge is definitely the best place to relax, watch the sunset and enjoy a drink as night falls all around you. They also have a restaurant where you can eat, but small dishes are available at the rooftop as well.
Cost: A drink cost between RM 20-30 (~$5-8) and food was about the same.
Insider Tip: Dress code is casual before 9 and dressy afterwards. Make sure to dress accordingly.
10. Free Walking Tour
I am a huge fan of history (I was a history major in undergrad) and nothing beats learning about the history of a city for free! Kuala Lumpur offers a free walking tour for those interested in learning more about the historical monuments and buildings. There are two free walking tours available:
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Dataran Merdeka
This tour highlights the iconic buildings that help to trace the country's history up to its independence. Some of the landmarks that the tour includes are the Royal Selangor Club, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, KL Railway Station and St. Mary's Cathedral. Tours begin at 9:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and last 2.5 hours. These tours are popular so make sure to get there early to sign up. The starting point is Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.
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Jalan-Jalan @ Kampong Bharu
Kampong Bharu means ‘new village' and the area is an excellent example of Malay culture and identity. Tours begin at 16:15 (4:15 pm) on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and last 2.5 hours. Bookings for this tour must be made 24 hours in advance; email pelancongan@dbkl.gov.my. The starting point is Kebab Sultan Sulaiman.
Getting Around
Trains:
Kuala Lumpur has an excellent train system that leads to many of the top tourist sights. Tickets are inexpensive and a great way to experience more of the local life. Once you buy a ticket, the machine will dispense a blue plastic coin that serves as your entrance AND exit! Make sure not to lose it during transit.
Walking:
In the downtown area, the city has built an elevated walkway that is an excellent way to get form place to place without having to worry about the danger of cars. The walkway leads to most of the malls and is well signed.
Have you been to Kuala Lumpur? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.